Hard-left faction forms inside Greens aiming to 'end capitalism'

Internal tensions within the Greens have boiled over, with members of the hard-left of the party grouped around NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon forming their own faction dedicated to the "fight to bring about the end of capitalism".

The formation of the group calling itself "Left Renewal" is an escalation of an ongoing battle between the so-called eastern bloc of the Greens and the group they dismiss as "tree Tories".

Left Renewal's logo.

Candidates backed by the hard-left have lost out in the two most recent state preselections in NSW, with members of the eastern bloc claiming the party has been infiltrated by "those with liberal politics who manipulate party processes [to] solidify their control".

The emergence of Left Renewal poses a challenge for Greens leader Richard Di Natale as the party has always argued publicly that it has no factions and governs itself and formulates policy on a consensus model of decision-making.

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Lee Rhiannon is in open conflict with former party leader Bob BrownCredit:Andrew Meares

On Thursday Senator Di Natale described the Left Renewal's manifesto as "ridiculous" and "ill-thought through" and suggested its members consider joining another party.

Following a meeting in Sydney on Wednesday night, Left Renewal issued a statement of principles that includes the "rejection of the state's legitimacy".

"We believe . . . that capitalism is a violent and antagonistic relation between workers, and those who exploit them. As workers, whether or not we are waged, we experience perpetual violence and that this violence must be brought to an end. We therefore fight to bring about the end of capitalism," it states.

"Capitalism depends upon violent and authoritarian divisions within the working class, such as elitism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, religious sectarianism, and ableism (among others). It is only with the abolition of these authoritarian relations that we will be able to create a thriving movement capable of transforming society and so must challenge these wherever we encounter it."

Greens leader Richard Di Natale described the Left Renewal's manifesto as "ridiculous" and suggested its members consider joining another party. Credit:Eddie Jim

Left Renewal claims "Australia is based upon an act of genocide which exists within a broader framework of global imperialism".

Despite the party's position against factionalism, members of Left Renewal will be bound to factional discipline.

"As advocates of grassroots democracy, we believe in . . . a degree of tactical unity in order to have real collective influence in the society that we live in. Once a decision has been taken by our organisation in a participatory democratic fashion, it is required by members that they respect, implement and where necessary, bind on the organisation's democratic decisions. In unity is strength," the statement of principles says.

Supporters of Left Renewal include Brigitte Holly, who is due to take up a position in Senator Rhiannon's office in the coming weeks, and Tamara Ryan, who was until recently on Senator Rhiannon's federal parliamentary liaison committee.

A spokeswoman for Senator Rhiannon said she is not involved with Left Renewal and none of her current staff are.

Senator Di Natale said he, like "the overwhelming majority of Greens members" does not support formal factions like those that within the Labor Party.

"Of course the Greens do not support the overthrow of capitalism or any other ridiculous notions of the sort," he said.

"Unfortunately, there is always a small minority in every political movement who are more concerned with infighting than with working together to advance agreed upon goals.

"The Greens have a policy platform established through a democratic grassroots process. If the authors of this ill-thought through manifesto are so unhappy with Greens policies, perhaps they should consider finding a new political home."

Tom Raue, a staffer to NSW MP David Shoebridge has been urging Greens' members to join, saying "our founding document explicitly mentions the anarchists and socialists that make up the party".

Mr Shoebridge said on Thursday that he was not a member of Left Renewal but defended its right to exist, saying the "no nastiness" grouping formed out of the office of Jeremy Buckingham could equally be considered a faction in NSW.

He said it was natural for like-minded people in a party to coalesce and seek to achieve goals but equally natural for people to seek to build bridges internally.

"In a party you need both," he said.

Rival faction, the NSW Greens Supporters (No Nastiness) group was set up in early September by Jack Gough, a staff member of Mr Buckingham but his office insisted that the group is merely a Facebook discussion forum whose members include Mr Shoebridge.

It was established amid hostility over the choice of a successor for Greens MLC John Kaye, who died of cancer in May.

The contest came down to Justin Field – supported by Mr Buckingham – and candidates aligned with Dr Kaye and Senator Rhiannon but Mr Field won preselection.

And again last week, the eastern bloc-backed candidate, Kelly Marks, narrowly lost out to Dawn Walker to fill another vacancy in state Parliament.